Ellen E Fitzsimmons-Craft1, Katherine N Balantekin2, Andrea K Graham3, Bianca DePietro1, Olivia Laing1, Marie-Laure Firebaugh1, Lauren Smolar4, Dan Park4, Claire Mysko4, Burkhardt Funk5, C Barr Taylor6,7, Denise E Wilfley1. 1. Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA. 2. Department of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, USA. 3. Department of Medical Social Sciences, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA. 4. National Eating Disorders Association, New York, New York, USA. 5. Institute of Information Systems, Leuphana University, Lüneburg, Germany. 6. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA. 7. Center for m2Health, Palo Alto University, Palo Alto, California, USA.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Scaling an online screen that provides referrals may be key in closing the treatment gap for eating disorders (EDs), but we need to understand respondents' help-seeking intentions and behaviors after receiving screen results. This study reported on these constructs among respondents to the National Eating Disorders Association online screen who screened positive or at high risk for an ED. METHOD: Respondents completed the screen over 18 months (February 9, 2018-August 28, 2019). Those screening positive or at high risk for an ED (n = 343,072) had the option to provide data on help-seeking intentions (after screen completion) and behaviors (2-month follow-up). RESULTS: Of eligible respondents, 4.8% (n = 16,396) provided data on help-seeking intentions, with only 33.7% of those reporting they would seek help. Only 7.6% of eligible respondents opted in to the 2-month follow-up, with 10.6% of those completing it (n = 2,765). Overall, 8.9% of respondents to the follow-up reported being in treatment when they took the screen, 15.5% subsequently initiated treatment, and 75.5% did not initiate/were not already in treatment. DISCUSSION: Preliminary results suggest that among the small minority who provided data, only one-third expressed help-seeking intentions and 16% initiated treatment. Online screening should consider ways to increase respondents' motivation for and follow-through with care.
OBJECTIVE: Scaling an online screen that provides referrals may be key in closing the treatment gap for eating disorders (EDs), but we need to understand respondents' help-seeking intentions and behaviors after receiving screen results. This study reported on these constructs among respondents to the National Eating Disorders Association online screen who screened positive or at high risk for an ED. METHOD: Respondents completed the screen over 18 months (February 9, 2018-August 28, 2019). Those screening positive or at high risk for an ED (n = 343,072) had the option to provide data on help-seeking intentions (after screen completion) and behaviors (2-month follow-up). RESULTS: Of eligible respondents, 4.8% (n = 16,396) provided data on help-seeking intentions, with only 33.7% of those reporting they would seek help. Only 7.6% of eligible respondents opted in to the 2-month follow-up, with 10.6% of those completing it (n = 2,765). Overall, 8.9% of respondents to the follow-up reported being in treatment when they took the screen, 15.5% subsequently initiated treatment, and 75.5% did not initiate/were not already in treatment. DISCUSSION: Preliminary results suggest that among the small minority who provided data, only one-third expressed help-seeking intentions and 16% initiated treatment. Online screening should consider ways to increase respondents' motivation for and follow-through with care.
Authors: Ellen E Fitzsimmons-Craft; Katherine N Balantekin; Andrea K Graham; Lauren Smolar; Dan Park; Claire Mysko; Burkhardt Funk; C Barr Taylor; Denise E Wilfley Journal: Int J Eat Disord Date: 2019-02-13 Impact factor: 4.861
Authors: Andrea K Graham; Mickey Trockel; Hannah Weisman; Ellen E Fitzsimmons-Craft; Katherine N Balantekin; Denise E Wilfley; C Barr Taylor Journal: J Am Coll Health Date: 2018-10-09
Authors: Scott J Fatt; Jonathan Mond; Kay Bussey; Scott Griffiths; Stuart B Murray; Alexandra Lonergan; Phillipa Hay; Nora Trompeter; Deborah Mitchison Journal: Eat Weight Disord Date: 2019-08-02 Impact factor: 4.652
Authors: Ellen E Fitzsimmons-Craft; Dawn M Eichen; Grace E Monterubio; Marie-Laure Firebaugh; Neha J Goel; C Barr Taylor; Denise E Wilfley Journal: Eat Disord Date: 2019-05-20 Impact factor: 3.222
Authors: Rachael E Flatt; Elliott Norman; Laura M Thornton; Ellen E Fitzsimmons-Craft; Katherine N Balantekin; Lauren Smolar; Claire Mysko; Denise E Wilfley; C Barr Taylor; Cynthia M Bulik Journal: Eat Behav Date: 2021-09-07
Authors: Anne Claire Grammer; Jillian Shah; Agatha A Laboe; Claire G McGinnis; Katherine N Balantekin; Andrea K Graham; Lauren Smolar; C Barr Taylor; Denise E Wilfley; Ellen E Fitzsimmons-Craft Journal: Int J Eat Disord Date: 2022-06-20 Impact factor: 5.791
Authors: Rachael E Flatt; Laura M Thornton; Ellen E Fitzsimmons-Craft; Katherine N Balantekin; Lauren Smolar; Claire Mysko; Denise E Wilfley; C Barr Taylor; J D DeFreese; Anna M Bardone-Cone; Cynthia M Bulik Journal: Int J Eat Disord Date: 2020-11-30 Impact factor: 4.861